Generations that Worship Together

I am excited that we will have C.D. Pruett with us Sunday. He is the director of the Gerontology Center at Abilene Christian University. His expertise is in ministry with the ever growing older population. He helps to equip churches to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of this group. As we continue to live longer a healthy senior ministry will be vital for the life of the church.

The other side of senior ministry is in intergenerational relationships. One of the weaknesses I see in the church today is the division in the generations. You have a children's ministry that does their thing. A youth group that is active in their own ministry. Throw in a widow's ministry and a senior ministry with their own agenda and we have a bunch of self interest groups. How many times have you visited a church where the members were all young or they were all older? God put us into a family to work together for His glory. I love that Moses took Joshua half way up the mountain. Eli prepares Samuel to be a leader in Israel. Paul told the older ladies to teach the younger ladies to love their husbands. We need each other. We need the wisdom and experience of those who are older, we also need the enthusiasm, optimism, and energy of the youth.

Although Dr. Pruett has a wonderful resume he was invited because he encouraged us to begin the GAP program and he is also Jason's father-in-law. (He is coming to Shreveport to visit Lauren and play with his grandbabies.) But this gives us a wonderful opportunity to unite the generations. The youth and the seniors will worship together with one voice. It is important that we finish the race - It is most important that we finish the race together!

March 28, 2007